Well Wishes

Dear Reader,

I am immediately off to another adventure! Straight from Iceland I am now heading to Glasgow, Scotland. Although I quite enjoy a fast-paced life, sometimes it is good to slow down and give your body a break. I am not feeling too well today. I think the cold Icelandic air has gotten to me. My body was ill-prepared for the change in weather and my immune system was caught off guard. I have a cold and a sore throat. I have traveled enough by now to know that at this stage of my sickness that things at this point can either start to improve or get drastically worse. So in this post, I just wanted to share with you some ways that I use to combat sickness on the go.

Vitamin C + Zinc

The old saying goes “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” It’s important to remember to eat healthily when one travels. Traveling exposes you to new environments and new germs that your body may not be well prepared to fight. Getting enough vitamin C and other antioxidants is especially important for fighting off a cold. If you ever find yourself traveling abroad you may find it harder to get your hands on any sort of common cold medication that you can easily encounter at your local CVS, Rite Aid, or Walgreens. Many European and Asian pharmacies do not sell common American preventative medicines over the counter. If you ever plan to travel for an extended period of time, I highly recommend that you stock up on any common medication that you rely on for aches and pains as you may have difficulty finding these same remedies abroad.

Anyway, I digress, if you find yourself starting to feel a little “sick-lish” I recommend taking one of these miracle tablets as pictured above (in the U.S. there is a very popular brand of these known as Emergen-C). These little tablets contain high concentrations of vitamins that you can dissolve in a glass of water. If you feel even the slightest of sore throats I advise that you rush over to your local pharmacy immediately, as these little tablets are NOT medicine but are vitamins that can help strengthen your immune system and help your body fight sickness BEFORE it starts. If you can find these little tablets that also contains Zinc, choose these ones! Zinc is actually proven to shorten the duration and intensity of common colds. Zinc is like a secret weapon, it’s a totally natural medication that you won’t have any problem buying at home or abroad.

Sleep

Skipping time zones, weathering new climates, and wandering all day can leave even experienced travelers exhausted. You may find yourself starting to nod off before dinner, even if you made plans to grab drinks at 9pm. To be jetlagged or to be rested – how to answer this question! If you want to enjoy your time abroad, staying on the same schedule as the locals is, of course, advisable. However, late nights and early mornings can certainly take a toll on your body. If you are fighting a cold while traveling, my best advice to you is sleep while you can!

When your body is fighting illness it is in a weakened state and needs much more care than on a normal day. More sleep, more nutrients, and more water are absolutely essential for the healing process. We are all human, Dear Reader, even when we are traveling. If you are feeling a bit sick, listen to your body and rest. The worst thing you can do is push your body too far, because if you do not make time for your health early, you could be spending the rest of your vacation in bed, or worse, at the doctor’s office.

Love,

Raven